Certainly my experience with semi-slicks is the same. Rim width matters so much. And I’m usually someone putting tires on wider rims (like 2.6” on i40) to make tires more square, but with any semi a more round profile is best.
As to tire profile. Throw a bunch of gears on my bike and send me out for a long ride, does my Big Betty 2.6” add climbing time over my Rock Razor 2.6”? I’d believe you if the study said no. But on my \#1FG bike - which is as directly connected a rider & rubber get this side of Dixie riding - I _FEEL_ the difference. And that’s where even though the lack of straight line braking or grip-on-grease bites me a few times a year I keep going back to the semi.
Aug. 3, 2023, 9:03 a.m. - Andrew Major
Certainly my experience with semi-slicks is the same. Rim width matters so much. And I’m usually someone putting tires on wider rims (like 2.6” on i40) to make tires more square, but with any semi a more round profile is best. As to tire profile. Throw a bunch of gears on my bike and send me out for a long ride, does my Big Betty 2.6” add climbing time over my Rock Razor 2.6”? I’d believe you if the study said no. But on my \#1FG bike - which is as directly connected a rider & rubber get this side of Dixie riding - I _FEEL_ the difference. And that’s where even though the lack of straight line braking or grip-on-grease bites me a few times a year I keep going back to the semi.